Ex-Rugby Star Jailed for $900K Crypto Ponzi Scheme—How a Sportsman Scammed 40+ Investors

Key Points

1. Shane Donovan Moore, 37, defrauded investors through his company Quantum Donovan LLC, falsely claiming it was a legitimate crypto mining venture.

2. Moore's scheme ran from January 2021 to October 2022, targeting investors in multiple U.S. states with promises of 1% daily returns, but no mining equipment was ever purchased.

3. The FBI reported over $9.3 billion in crypto-related losses in 2024, a 66% increase from the previous year, with investment scams being a major contributor.

4. Crystal CEO Navin Gupta stated that 80% of crypto scams could be avoided by adopting cautious behavior, such as verifying unsolicited messages and avoiding rushed decisions.

5. Moore was sentenced to 30 months in prison, with prosecutors noting the actual investor losses exceeded $387,000 after some early repayments.